‘No place for hate' as police escort neo-Nazis in early-morning march
About 100 people from the National Socialist Network dressed in black and wearing face masks marched through the Bourke Street Mall at 12.40am on Saturday.
In footage posted to social media, police vehicles can be seen gathering at the corner of Bourke and Swanston streets in front of the group, before reversing out of the way of the march and allowing the neo-Nazis to proceed east along Bourke Street.
A 26-year-old man confronted the group and was allegedly assaulted. The man, of no fixed address, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A number of police vehicles followed the neo-Nazis as they walked to Flagstaff Gardens, before they were dispersed about 1.25am.
When asked why the protest was allowed to proceed, a spokeswoman for Victoria Police said officers were 'quick to respond to ensure public order was maintained'.
'No arrests were made throughout the protest and police had a strong presence to maintain community safety and to prevent any breach of the peace,' the spokeswoman said.
'Victoria Police respects the right to protest; however, there is absolutely no place for antisemitic, racist or hate-based behaviour in our society and police will not tolerate such activity.'
Deakin University Associate Professor Joshua Roose, an expert in right-wing extremists, said there was limited action available to police to disperse the group, in the absence of banning face coverings or requiring protest permits.
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